Residency in Canada

[LydiaM*]

Hello,

If an IMG completed their residency in Canada, are they eligible to apply for the American Board Certification in the US later on? And thus, will they be allowed to work in the US?

Thanks.

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[gutonc]

Hello,

If an IMG completed their residency in Canada, are they eligible to apply for the American Board Certification in the US later on? And thus, will they be allowed to work in the US?

Thanks.

Yes. Assuming they have an appropriate visa/residency/citizenship.

 

[geripalgal]

Also speciaty dependant - fam med in canada will need to do an extra year in US. No issues for length of training if IM

 

[LydiaM*]

Yes. Assuming they have an appropriate visa/residency/citizenship.

Thanks! By residency/citizenship do you mean American, or is the Canadian accepted as well?

 

[LydiaM*]

Also speciaty dependant - fam med in canada will need to do an extra year in US. No issues for length of training if IM

Thank you! What about Ophthalmology or Radiology?

 

[gutonc]

Thank you! What about Ophthalmology or Radiology?

ROFLNOPE

 

[gutonc]

Thanks! By residency/citizenship do you mean American, or is the Canadian accepted as well?

Canadian citizens must have a visa to work in the US. If they want to become US PR/Citizens, that's OK too. But this isn't the EU.

 

[rokshana]

Thank you! What about Ophthalmology or Radiology?

is that what you did your residency in? getting a job probably then is more about visa requirements, but if you are looking to get a residency inn of those...you are m/l outta luck..optho is one of the hardest residency to get, even as a US MD student, nevermind as a Visa requiring student.

 

[LydiaM*]

is that what you did your residency in? getting a job probably then is more about visa requirements, but if you are looking to get a residency inn of those...you are m/l outta luck..optho is one of the hardest residency to get, even as a US MD student, nevermind as a Visa requiring student.

No I haven't completed residency yet, but I was wondering if a residency in those fields had been completed in Canada, if it made me eligible to apply for the American Board and thus work in the US (if Visa works)? From what I understood, I can do residency in any field in Canada and then be allowed to work in the US if Visa requirements are met, right? (as in it's not restricted to Internal Medicine or PCP)
Thanks!

 

[LydiaM*]

Canadian citizens must have a visa to work in the US. If they want to become US PR/Citizens, that's OK too. But this isn't the EU.

Okay so it would be the same process as getting a Visa for residency, right? Thank you.

 

[geripalgal]

Check the website of your respective boards for requirements. Radiology will accept royal college training. Im sure you can check the optho website yoursef...


Visa for work is a lot more complicated. A fully trained physician would need an h1b visa to be sponsored by their employer (TN would not work for this field). J1 is only for training.

Which means you need a job offer first >>apply for visa >> then move...

For optho and radiology Im not sure if there are enough h1b jobs out there, but of course anything is possible. in the current hire american envioronment dont be surprised if the only jobs are out in the boonies. Or you would need a green card from other means (spousal).

 

[LydiaM*]

Check the website of your respective boards for requirements. Radiology will accept royal college training. Im sure you can check the optho website yoursef...


Visa for work is a lot more complicated. A fully trained physician would need an h1b visa to be sponsored by their employer (TN would not work for this field). J1 is only for training.

Which means you need a job offer first >>apply for visa >> then move...

For optho and radiology Im not sure if there are enough h1b jobs out there, but of course anything is possible. in the current hire american envioronment dont be surprised if the only jobs are out in the boonies. Or you would need a green card from other means (spousal).

Yes, I will do that. Thank you for your help!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

In general, the answer to your question is "yes". But the practical/likely answer for you is "no".

Yes -- if you complete training in Canada, then you should be able to get a license in the US and sit for the appropriate board exam. As mentioned above, the training time for some fields is different and this can cause some problems. So you need to check carefully.

But no -- realistically, the chances of getting a spot as an IMG in Canada are very low. Most IMG's that are Canadian citizens end up doing their training in the US (where obtaining spots for IMG's is more realistic), and then return to Canada to work as US and Canadian training is interchangeable. Canada is quite strict about training time, so if training is shorter in the US you do have to find some way to get the extra training.

Getting a spot in Ophthal in general is very difficult. It takes audition rotations and connections, and as an IMG that's simply very unlikely. Getting a spot in the US in Ophthal is likewise extremely difficult -- the field is very competitive and it takes stellar scores, lots of US experience, often year(s) of research, and quite a but of luck. Getting a spot in Rads in the US as an IMG is much more reasonable, but still requies good scores and US clinical experience.

As already mentioned, getting a visa outside of training is a different beast than getting a training visa. It's much more difficult, in general. You can't just open your own private practice.

Last, even if you do your training in Canada, you might not find getting a job in the US easy. Medicine in the two countries is practiced quite differently. Billing and coding are wildly different. US programs might not be familiar with Canadian training programs.

 

[LydiaM*]

In general, the answer to your question is "yes". But the practical/likely answer for you is "no".

Yes -- if you complete training in Canada, then you should be able to get a license in the US and sit for the appropriate board exam. As mentioned above, the training time for some fields is different and this can cause some problems. So you need to check carefully.

But no -- realistically, the chances of getting a spot as an IMG in Canada are very low. Most IMG's that are Canadian citizens end up doing their training in the US (where obtaining spots for IMG's is more realistic), and then return to Canada to work as US and Canadian training is interchangeable. Canada is quite strict about training time, so if training is shorter in the US you do have to find some way to get the extra training.

Getting a spot in Ophthal in general is very difficult. It takes audition rotations and connections, and as an IMG that's simply very unlikely. Getting a spot in the US in Ophthal is likewise extremely difficult -- the field is very competitive and it takes stellar scores, lots of US experience, often year(s) of research, and quite a but of luck. Getting a spot in Rads in the US as an IMG is much more reasonable, but still requies good scores and US clinical experience.

As already mentioned, getting a visa outside of training is a different beast than getting a training visa. It's much more difficult, in general. You can't just open your own private practice.

Last, even if you do your training in Canada, you might not find getting a job in the US easy. Medicine in the two countries is practiced quite differently. Billing and coding are wildly different. US programs might not be familiar with Canadian training programs.

Thank you very much!